Ball-caster.



S. W. BENNETT.

BALL OASTER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 4, 1913.

Patented Oct. 14, 1913.

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BALL-CASTEE.

Application filed June 4, 1913.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, SILAS N. BENNETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Somerville, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ball-Casters, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in casters and more particularly to a ball caster and the primary object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is simple and durable in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and one which will be very efficient and useful in operation.

A further object of the invent-ion resides in providing a ball caster having two sets of balls, one set of which are adapted to protrude therefrom to form the contacting portion of the device and the other set of which forms a bearing means for the first set, whereby a smooth rolling caster will be provided.

Still another object of the invention re sides in providing a device which may be quickly and readily applied to use and removed, when desired.

Vfith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter referred to and more particularly pointed out in the specification and claim.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, Figure 1 is a vertical section through the device. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the same with parts removed.

In describing my invention, I shall refer to the drawing in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and in which 1 indicates a block or body formed preferally of hard wood, and designed somewhat cylindrical, the same being provided with a trio of sockets 2 formed in the one face thereof and spaced at regular intervals from one another. These sockets 2 taper smaller toward the bottoms thereof and terminate in additional and smaller sockets 3.

Mounted in the additional and smaller sockets 3 are the bearing balls 4 which are of such size as to readily rotate therein and project somewhat into the sockets 2, and

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 1%,1913.

Serial No. 771,708.

mounted in the latter sockets are the larger bearing balls 5, which are designed to readily rotate in said sockets. These latter bearing balls contact with the bearing balls 4 and when disposed to their innermost positions in the sockets, said balls 5 project a short distance beyond the face of the block 1 in which the sockets are formed. This face is, obviously, the bottom face of the block or body.

I have provided a means for retaining the balls in the sockets and to this end, a metallic shell or the like 6 is provided, which is cylindrical in design to fit snugly around the member 1. This shell which has the bottom thereof fitting over the bottom face of the member 1, is provided with a trio of openings 7, the latter being arranged to aline with the sockets 2, whereby to receive portions of the bearing balls 5 therethrough. These openings 7 are of slightly less diameter than the diameter of said balls 5 and the walls of said openings are beveled or chamfered so that said balls, while permitted to protrude beyond the bottom face of said shell, will be positively retained in the body member or block 1.

The shell 6 has the tongue-like strips 8 formed in the upper edge thereof which are bent inwardly to extend over the top face of the block or body 1, toward the axial center of the latter and said tongues or strips are then bent upwardly to form the spring arms or extension fingers 9. As many of these fingers or spring arms may be provided as are desired, but I have shown four l) of such fingers in the drawings, which is the number preferred in practical use. These spring arms are adapted to be received in a socket 10 in the lower end of a leg or the like 11, of a piece of furniture and the upper portions of said arms or fingers are slightly bulged, as shown at 12 to provide ribs or the like for reception in an annular groove 13 formed in the wall of the socket 10. When these balls are properly fitted in the block 1 and the shell 6 properly applied to the latter, said bearing balls will be operatively and positively held in posi tion and when the spring arms 9 are properly disposed in the socket of the leg of a piece of furniture, the caster will be securely held in position thereon. It will be seen, however, that while the device is capable of quick and ready attachment, the same is equally as readily removed, when desired.

to manufacture and one Which Will be very eflicient and useful in operation.

While I have particularly described the elements best adapted to perform the functions set forth, it is obvious that various changes in form, proportion and in the minor details of construction may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the principles of the invention.

Having thus described this invention,

. What is claimed is A ball caster comprising a body having sockets in the bottom face thereof, bearing balls mounted in said sockets to protrude beyond the lower face of said body, a shell applied to said body to entirely inclose the sides and body thereof, the bottom of said shell being provided With openings receiving the protruding portions of said balls therethrough, said openings being of smaller diameter than the diameter of said balls to retain the latter in position in said body, arms formed on the upper edge of said shell and bent across the upper face of said body to retain the shell in position thereon, and extensions formed on the last mentioned bent arms and projecting upwardly therefrom to provide means for securing the device to an obj eet.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

SILAS 4V. BENNETT. Witnesses:

HENRY P. ANDREWS, ANNA F. LEACI-I.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commission-er of Patents Washington, I). G. 

